The French send Messi led Argentina Home!

Hearts were broken at Kazan Arena in Russia as Messi led Argentina was defeated by France in the first match of the round of 16 in 2018 World Cup. This was the 12th meeting between the two nations, and Argentina had won six out of the 11 previous games. But this time France outplayed the South Americans and won the knockout match. The score line at the end of the match was France 4, Argentina 3.

The French send Messi led Argentina Home!

Kazan Arena, Russia

Hearts were broken at Kazan Arena in Russia as Messi led Argentina was defeated by France in the first match of the round of 16 in 2018 World Cup. This was the 12th meeting between the two nations, and Argentina had won six out of the 11 previous games. But this time France outplayed the South Americans and won the knockout match. The score line at the end of the match was France 4, Argentina 3.

There was a huge support for the Argentines in the stadium but the team was not at its best in this world cup. Whereas France is one of the best teams in the run for the cup. At 11’ a foul was committed by the Argentine fallback Marcos Rojo, he was handed a yellow car and the French won the penalty for the caution. Griezman converted the spot kick and took France to a goals lead. Striker Antonio Griezman has been involved in 10 of Frances’s last 15 goals in World Cup finals.

At 41’ Di Maria floated a marvelous strike from out of the box straight into the French goal. It was a spectacular equalizer and the South Americans were back in the game. Di Maria who plays for PSG football club pulled the trigger from 35 yards to beat the French goalkeeper Lloris.

At half-time the scores were level and the second-half awaited an enthralling contest.

The Agrentines substituted Mrcos Rojos, the last games winning scorer, in place of Fredrico Fazio. We were 3’ in the second-half and Argentina took the lead. Mercado deflected Messi’s strike at the back of the French net. It was a turnaround moment in the match as Messi’s team had lead for the first time. This was Mercado’s 4th goal for his nation.

At 57’ the game was witness of the goal that could be considered as the goal of the tournament. Benjamin Pavard stuck a tremendous ball from out of the box straight into the Argentine goal. Pavard is the first French defender to strike a goal for France since 1998. The scores were now at 2-2.

7’ minutes later Kyllan Mbappe drilled a goal from a close range into the Argentine net. Dreams seemed to end for the South-Americans. The French were in the lead. Kun Aguero was brought on the field by the Argentine coach, unfortunately in the 68’ minute Mbappe once again went past the Argentine defence and took his team home. He was once step close to putting his team in the last eight.

Sad faces were seen on the field as well as in the crowd as the south Americans were unable to equalize the lead. It was in 90+3’ that Kun Aguero scored a consolation goal for the Argentines.

Well, at the final whistle of the referee Argentina was 1 goal short, this was the 5th time that the South Americans had conceded 4+ goals in a